Category: Towable Tubes

Towable tubes are a huge amount of fun! They’re an amazing way to enjoy yourself without having to learn too much about a sport or learn anything in the way of techniques to get going. Pretty much anyone can get on a good quality towable tube and have a load of fun in the water. This article is designed to explore the best towable tubes available and review individual models of tube.

Not everyone who wants to chill out on the water is keen to try skiing or boarding, and thats where products like this are so useful. Towable tubes can attach easily onto the back of a boat or other sea vehicle and can sometimes carry two or three people at a time. Whats more, multiple tubes can be attached at one time so you can go out in groups and have a good time flying across the water with minimal effort and maximum fun! Bear in mind that Tubing goes by multiple names such as towing, Toobing, bumper tubing and more, it generally all means the same thing!

Tubing is one of the best things to do as a group. If you’re wanting to ski on the water, or you’re looking at other products such as kneeboards or wakeboards, you’re going to be on your own and if you want a go, you’ll probably have to wait your turn! With tubes, you can take a group out, making them great for youngsters to all go out on the water together. This is one of the qualities of towable tubes which is pretty unique to watersport products.

A common theme for towable tubes is to be able to tow two people or three people at once, but some can handle four or even up to six people. A couple of those on a boat and you’ve got a huge amount of people you can take out at once, picture you and a group of friends flying over the water at speed then you will understand why the best towable tubes have become so popular.

What to Look For in a Towable Tube

What makes the best option for you is largely dependent on what you need the tubes to be able to do. There are a few different factors to consider to ensure you get the model that suits you and your family.

Size – is it going to be used for children mainly or adults? What size are you going to need, or do you need multiple sizes of towable tubes to suit multiple age groups?

Build Quality – this is pretty universal, you need something that is pretty good quality and isn’t going to puncture easily. For any inflatable product, punctures can be a nightmare. There’s nothing worse than taking your tube out on the water for the first time and it getting a puncture, and buying something good quality will minimize the chances of this happening. Many can be fixed and even come with kits to repair them, but it is still a pain when you want to be out on the water.

Seats and comfort – this is definitely worth considering if you’re more timid on the water or are taking people out who aren’t used to being on the water, having a seat that they can comfortably sit down on and feel secure can be a great help.

Make sure you have a good quality pump. Pumps are going to do a lot of the work, and a low quality pump will take a long time, or may not even do the job at all. High capacity pumps don’t have to be a big investment but can save you a lot of time and hassle. Some kits even come with their own pump.

Kids or Adults

This is a big decision to make! The best towable tubes for kids may not be the same as the ones for adults, they come in varying sizes based on who will be using it and some of the models are designed specifically for children to be taking out on the water. Some of the top models are even suitable for all ages.

Cost of Towables

The phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ springs to mind here. If you want a budget, cheaper towable tube then it may do a job for a while and be enough to have some fun, but it probably won’t last a long time. The reality is that the most highly reviewed Towable tubes are the ones which are a bit more expensive. You can get some models under $100 and some are even under $50 but

So there we have it. Some criteria for the towable tubes before you decide which to buy. Next up we’ve put together some of the reviews of different models of towables.

AIRHEAD AHM2-2 Mach 2 Towable Review

Airhead are one of the top manufacturers of Towables. This is an exceptional model and though it is far from being the cheapest, there is little denying it is one of the top models on the market. Reviews of the product on amazon and elsewhere back up the fact that most people who have purchased the AHM2-2 are very happy with the features it offers.

One of the key selling points is the fact that it works for both kids and adults, so you don’t have to buy this for a specific age group.

This towable has clearly been designed with comfort in mind, it has an inflated seat to keep your bum comfortable, has four handles (with knuckle guards to try and prevent any soreness on your knuckles) which will help keep you secure in your seat. This all adds up to this being an excellent, secure model which is perfect for beginners and more advanced users alike.

If two seats in your towable tube is enough for you, this Airhead model is definitely worth your consideration, the double stitched nylon seam helps to aid the quality and this isn’t a model which will puncture easily. As well as being very well made, this is a huge amount of fun, and easy to hold onto if you’re new to being towed around.

SPORTSSTUFF 53-2223 Super Mable Towable

A different brand this time, but still really good quality. Airhead make a huge amount of the products in this niche, but Sports stuff aren’t to be ignored either and make some very good towable tubes. The Super Mable makes the list of the best for a few reasons:

It is super fast to inflate and deflate, just stick it in the back of the car or truck and it is ready to go in minutes once you reach the beach, lake or river.

The back rest is pretty unique and adds another layer of stability and comfort, great for kids and those new to being towed behind a boat.

Handles! Lots and lots of handles, also great for staying stable through your ride, even when things get fast.

Room for three people with foam padded seating so you don’t get sore, even if you spend ages out on the water.

Weight limit of 510 lbs for towing.

This is a superb towable for all of the family, great for kids and adults. In all honesty, it feels like you’re in a fairground ride, and you feel pretty strapped in due to the walls at the back and sides. Many have earmarked this as the most comfortable and most secure tube currently on the market, and for youngsters or beginners this is excellent.

The reviews for the products speak for it. Huge amounts of positive reviews talk about how fun, easy and comfortable the Super Mable is! We definitely recommend it.

SPORTSSTUFF 53-1780 Chariot Warbird 2 Towable

Now this is what we’re talking about. The Chariot Warbird, also from SportsStuff is a wonderful piece of kit, very unique and undeniably one of the best tow tubes on the market. As the photos of the product show, this can be used in different ways, you can sit on your bottom and let it tow you as normal, or kneel on it and have it towed from the other end.

As well as the extremely cool, eye-catching design, this is an incredibly sturdy and well made piece of kit, which resists punctures and is good for even those going on slightly rougher waters.

The USP of this is of course the multiple riding positions, you can use it in multiple ways, which is not something we can say about may of the products which consider themselves rivals. Once again, it isn’t the cheapest product out there, but it is well made, and in our opinion excellent value for money. You’ll have a huge amount of fun out on the water with the Chariot Warbird 2!

As well as this, it is a really easy product to use, it inflates and deflates quickly and simply, plus it is easy to adjust the position and where it is attached to the boat with a heavy duty but easy to use connection kit to hook it up.

Rave Razor 2-Rider Towable

I wanted to include a more ‘budget friendly’ option on the list. The prices are subject to change, of course, but at the time of writing this is cheaper than many of its alternatives, making it great for those on a budget. It is sturdy and well-reviewed, although it may not be too much to write home about. It is sturdy and has comfortable grip handles with knuckle guards. This is better for those who are comfortable gliding along the water as it requires plenty of holding on, it isn’t backed or seated like the other models we’ve reviewed above. Still, for the money, this is good value and has a lot of positives, as well as being sturdy, easy to transport and easy to tow.

Conclusion

Of course you should always be safety conscious when you’re using products like this and life jackets are always a must for any watersports or hobbies and activities involving water. Due to new innovations, these products are always changing, but the models above are such excellent fun and offer a huge amount of awesome features, great for children and adults alike and providing hours of fun on boating trips! Putting a little extra time in to buy the best and do some research before you impulse buy something can pay dividends in the long run!

About The Watersporter

Welcome to the Water Sporter. I'm Russell, one of the founders of the site, and a lover of all things water sports. Over the years I've tried my hands at everything from surfing to canoeing, kayaking to swimming, and this site is designed to be a central hub for reviews and information for anything relating to these sports.

We believe that water sports should be accessible for anyone who wants to get involved, so our information is for beginners, intermediates and experts alike. Even if you are a novice, our how to guides and information are designed to have you up and running in no time, whether you want to get involved in fishing, snorkeling, SUPs, bodyboarding, or just about anything else you can class as a water sport!